When the girls of "The Five" bring a cake to their enjoyment of the show, they should post the recipe on the website. That is just being polite.

OMG, the talking head generals want to go to war with Russia. Amazing. The talking head generals want to have President Obama bomb the airstrip the Russians are using.

Okay, here is a little straight talk. 

There is such a thing as "The Balance of Power." In the recent world of the Middle East Russia had a presence. It had allies. Syria and Iran are two of the them. Russia is widely accepted by most if not all the countries in the Middle East. The Saudis, the Israelis, the Jordanians all have diplomatic relationships with Russia. 

Russia left the Syrian ports a year or so ago. Their return is different today with weapons and soldiers and jets and pilots. President Putin was asked to assist President Assad. President Assad is the only legitimate authority in Syria. Like it or not. 

Why is it there is a division in affiliation between Russia and the USA when it comes to countries in the Middle East? Why is that? Why is it that decades after the overthrow of the Shah of Iran the diplomatic relations were absent until President Obama? 

2008 marks the 100th anniversary of oil (click here) discovery at Masjid Sulaiman in southwest Iran (Persia), which ushered in a new era in the history of the Middle East. This is the story of the men who made this discovery....

There has been interest in the Middle East by Europe and the USA for a very long time. Due to that fact the politics of the religious ethnicities rolled out far differently than would normally exist. The West 'managed' the region due to 'national interests.' 

Saddam, the Shah were all figure heads instilled by The West for the purpose of managing the people to allow petroleum companies a platform to profit from the Middle East oil. There were issues over the years such as the 1970s embargo, but, The West was never really out of power in the Middle East.  

The oil kept coming. 

What is the majority of religious ethnicities in the Middle East? What has been the minority? 

Leaving Christianity and Hebrews out of it, the majority are Sunnis with multiple ethnicities among them. The minorities are the Shia with similar ethnic differences between them.

Leaders of The West saw only to maintain their influence in obtaining oil. So, when The West was interested in their own priorities who would they seek out to influence the greatest area of the Middle East? The Hebrews? No. At one point there wasn't even an Israel. The Christians? No, they had no governing power in the Middle East, so who exactly would they seek out? 

The West would seek out the Sunnis to maintain their interests in oil reserves found there. What happens to the Shia? When your best friend tells you the Shia are among the false religions in the region and nothing but heathens, trouble makers and the like, what happens to the Shia?

Add to that the carving out of Israel. Now, what happens? The region has witnessed, in great anger, the world carving a country out of the holy land to reside the Hebrews. Then what happens to the Shia? 

The Shah was from a royal family and the USA backed him up and he had power (by power I mean police and military power) over the people. He received his daily meals from Europe via jet because the air and water and land were polluted with oil wells. The people of Iran were ill and hungry. That is a fact. So, while The West found Saddam and the Shah good friends the people of that land did not. Like. No clue. 

As time went by and The West was extricated from Iran without a war the new Supreme Leader needed help with his country. The USA would not be at all interested in a relationship with a religious leader adverse to it's own interest, so JUST LIKE ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, they turn to Russia. 

If a country did not have a relationship with The West, it had one with Russia. Quite by accident the Shia of Syria and Iran found themselves an ally. So, here we are today and the USA is saying Russia is not allowed in the region anymore. 

Really? 

Well, the fact of the matter is Russia has more right to be in the region than any other country and certainly that of the USA with Syria and Iran. 

Iraq wasn't enough of a failure? The nation building in Iraq is a joke. The failures in Afghanistan isn't enough? 

Well, it is enough for me.   

We don't belong in Syria.

We never did.

There are pediatricians across this country that see firearms as a lethal danger to children. Republicans could not care less.

Dr. Carson is stupid. For a man with his qualifications and professional ethnics to dive into Republican rhetoric for the sake of votes? It is stupid.

He can't run an honest campaign with real promise for the country? He has to pull a Herman Cain? It's stupid and unethical. I take it he doesn't practice anymore. To state children and young people should take on a gunman rather than gun control is highly unethical. He isn't practicing anymore. Retired, I suppose.

The reality is, given his professional status which he brings into his political campaign, he should be demanding the absolutely highest standards for the safety of children and young people. He refuses to stand for human life and it is disgusting, unprofessional and ruthless.

American Academy of Pediatrics Gun Violence Policy Recommendations (click here)

Firearm Safety AAP’s 2012 policy statement, Preventing Firearm Related Injuries in the Pediatric Population, states that the absence of guns from children’s homes and communities is the most reliable and effective measure to prevent firearm-related injuries in children and adolescents....

Enact a strong, effective assault weapon ban;

Eliminate the gun show loophole and require mandatory background checks and waiting periods before all firearm purchases;

Ban on high capacity magazines;

Enact strong handgun regulations; 
and Require safe firearm storage under federal law 

Restrictions of gun laws should begin and not stop until these hideous killings stop. President Obama woke today to another campus shooting when he was preparing for his visit to the most recent community struck by gun violence. This is ridiculous and the Republicans have no moral content in their party when it comes to guns. These killings are out of control and so are the gun laws in the USA.

The first step in ending animal cruelty entertainment.

The whales needed a larger enclosure. The idea domestic breeding of Orcas would bring a morality to the operation is a profit motive. There should be no taking of Marine Mammals anywhere in Earth's oceans.

There have been losses of Marine Mammal species in modern time. These losses didn't occur one hundred years ago. It has been recent decades. As an example, the Chinese River Dolphin went extinct within the last ten years or so. 

Sea World came up with the idea of breeding their own stocks as a way to say they don't take these mammals out of the ocean and therefor they are humane. 

Marine mammals have instincts. They are hardwired to behaviors that Sea World uses to tease out their acts during a performance. From observing videos of the Sea World Orcas there are incidents due to the fact the mammals are based in wild instincts. Additionally, when they bond with their trainers they are hurt when they are disciplined by their trainers. They also feel injustice in that disciplining. 

Marine Mammals are highly intelligent. They discern the meaning of communication according to the definition by Marine Mammal trainers. The Orcas do not have CLEAR communication, they have INTERPRETED communication with their trainers. The trainers don't speak Orca and yes there is such a thing. 

Misunderstandings happen within the very small world of the Orcas at Sea World. Their ability to tolerate misunderstanding across the two species is really minimal. The world of the Sea World Orcas is very small and very routine. There is no room for stress at all when they are trying their best to communicate the behaviors demanded of them. In my opinion when these mammals are disciplined it is mental cruelty and should not be tolerated. 

The Orcas should never be required to perform. It is mental cruelty to them and dangerous to the trainers. Family pods should never be disturbed. They should be housed with observation areas for the public and nothing more.

October 9, 2015

By Christine Hauser

California (click here) has approved a multimillion-dollar expansion of the killer whale habitat at SeaWorld in San Diego, but it banned the breeding of the whales in captivity and restricted how the whales may be brought into the park.

The conditions placed on the project by the California Coastal Commission, met late Thursday at a public hearing in Long Beach, mean that the 11 whales now in the park will not be replaced by breeding, calling into question the future of the killer whale shows that are a centerpiece of the marine parks.

SeaWorld said on Friday that it was disappointed in the decision and that it was reviewing its options. Animal rights activists applauded the decision.

The hearing on Thursday was attended by hundreds of protesters, highlighting the controversy over keeping wild creatures in captivity for entertainment. Protesters packed the meeting, holding up signs calling for the mammals to be set free....

Urban Outfitters and other Wall Street franchisers need a union for it's employers.

August 17, 2015
By Lauren Gensler

Urban Outfitters URBN +0.00% reported better-than-expected earnings (click here) in its fiscal second quarter on Monday, bolstered by higher sales across its brands.
The apparel and accessories retailer, which embraces a focus on young consumers, has been struggling to combat falling margins and weakness at its namesake Urban Outfitters stores. (click here)
Yet, same-store sales rose across the board during the quarter, jumping 14% at Free People, 4% at Urban Outfitters and 2% at Anthropologie.
Shares rose 5% in after-hours trading.
The strength across its brands helped push the company over a new top-line milestone. “We are pleased to announce record sales for the second quarter driven by positive retail segment comp growth at each brand,” said CEO Richard Hayne in a statement....

Why the Union then?

As Urban Outfitters whisks in new fall styles, its parent company is bringing in a new employment trend — asking staff to volunteer for unpaid work.

Volunteers. Urban Outfitters wants their employees to be volunteers. Amazing.

Richard Hayne, founder and CEO of Urban Outfitters. (AP Photo/George Widman)

URBN, the owner of retail chains Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, sent out an email Tuesday to salaried employees working at its home office in Philadelphia proposing the innovative strategy. 

As the email, obtained by Gawker, explained, "October will be the busiest month yet for the center, and we need additional helping hands to ensure the timely shipment of orders."

URBN pitched the idea, which would see staff members working side by side on weekends with people who are actually paid to be there, as an opportunity to "experience our fulfillment operations first hand" and "help pick, pack and ship orders."...

This is a new trend? It cuts into the viability of the US Economy. I think it is worse than Walmart and it's advisory offices to apply for Medicaid and Food Stamps. At least the Walmart employees still received something rather than just an "Atta boy."

The store is not healthy for a local economy. I am sure there are store fronts where small businesses can be started with REAL unique fashion choices while they pay their employees a living wage. UNIQUE fashion begins with seamstresses.

Theresa is the only seamstress (click here) that performs a pick-up and delivery service right to your home. Additional services include  hemming, alterations, and custom-made creations. Curtains, dresses, shirts, pants, blankets, uniforms, couch cushions, and more... If you need alterations or a custom made product, contact Theresa the Seamstress today!

There needs to be a dress designer opportunity from the local community college that will uniquely design fashions the public is looking for. Local High School teams can find their own designer fashions for sale to supporters, etc. That's the idea. 

From inspection of design to local marketing. And everyone gets paid.

The concept is highly MORAL, respects human dignity and uniqueness and values collective bargaining when it 'finally arrives."

The best example I can think of is "Barbizon." (click here) It was a clothing company where women were employed and I think they were unionized. The clothing that still exists today is considered vintage clothing. Those items are sold for far more today than when they were brand new.
Rayon is a great fabric, too. Designs for unique clothing business can also have local and independent weavers, All Cotton or Wool, etc. It can get very interesting to the public as well.

Dreams can come true. There is a USA design-manufacturing company, what is their name? 

"Alabama Chanin" (click here) This is a little pricey for the average purchaser, however, it can start with 'basics' of clothing that has longevity and doesn't fall apart in one fashion season. These folks have been in business for awhile. Everything is hand made. If local fashions want a start up, they can grow into any saturation for hand made clothing. What is really nice about having control of a product from start to finish is the morality of it. AND. There are many people in the year 2015 that have allergies, sometimes severe that would love to purchase sturdy and fashion. Just a thought.

High volume gun dealers result in the most traceable guns involved in crime.

December 13, 2010
By Sari Horwitz and James V. Grimaldi

A decade ago, (click here) politicians and the press routinely reported on gun stores across the nation that had the most traces for firearms recovered by police. In 2003, under pressure from the gun lobby, Congress passed a law that hid from public view the government database that contained the gun tracing information.

The Washington Post has obtained the names of the gun dealers nationwide with the most traces over the past four years. In addition, The Post has uncovered the names of the dealers, all from border states, with the most traces from guns recovered in Mexico over the past two years. 

A high number of guns traced to a store does not necessarily signal wrongdoing. The number of traces a store generates is shaped by many factors, including volume, the type of guns sold, geography and clientele. 

Topping the overall list with about 2,390 traces is Vance Outdoors in Columbus, Ohio. Owner Todd Vance said his that grandfather started the business on Cleveland Avenue in 1938 and that the store is a top source for shooters, hunters, anglers and boaters in central Ohio....

Columbus, Ohio is about 350 miles or approximately six hours drive from Chicago, Illinois. 

A city should have the right to sue gun sales by any dealer known to have the majority of traces. in other words. A gun seller has a high rate of sales that shows up in Chicago crime. That seller is providing guns to criminals. That has to stop. 

The Charlotte, NC dealer and New York City have something in common. They share I-95. About ten hours and 750 miles between the two. The distances between the two is irrelevant to the realization a gun dealer is the one of choice for any New York crime network.

..."We're one of the oldest gun stores and sell the most guns in the Southeast," he said. "We've sold nearly a million guns. We have a 6,000-gun inventory and sell 50 guns a day. People buy here from 100 miles away because I have four gunsmiths to repair guns."...

Large volume gun dealers are not required to do background checks because it is viewed as a wholesale distributor and not a direct sales store to customers. The realization these large volume sellers are finding their guns into the hands of criminals should give them a reality check. "I didnt' do anything "W'rong." Right, three is nothing like an honest business man selling guns to retailers that sell to criminals. 

It is well known there are corridors where guns travel to reach the wrong owners that can no longer obtain their guns legitimately. There is nothing to say these distributors ever conduct business knowingly with criminals. However, reality wins out to realize such large number of gun traces from crime scenes are back to these distributors. 

Enough. There should be an investigation demanded by these wholesalers to protect their reputations and that is not the cause. Cities and/or families should have rights to justice when it is realized the guns involved in crime are traceable to one gun dealer.

High volume gun dealers result in the most traceable guns involved in crime.

December 13, 2010
By Sari Horwitz and James V. Grimaldi

A decade ago, (click here) politicians and the press routinely reported on gun stores across the nation that had the most traces for firearms recovered by police. In 2003, under pressure from the gun lobby, Congress passed a law that hid from public view the government database that contained the gun tracing information.

The Washington Post has obtained the names of the gun dealers nationwide with the most traces over the past four years. In addition, The Post has uncovered the names of the dealers, all from border states, with the most traces from guns recovered in Mexico over the past two years. 

A high number of guns traced to a store does not necessarily signal wrongdoing. The number of traces a store generates is shaped by many factors, including volume, the type of guns sold, geography and clientele. 

Topping the overall list with about 2,390 traces is Vance Outdoors in Columbus, Ohio. Owner Todd Vance said his that grandfather started the business on Cleveland Avenue in 1938 and that the store is a top source for shooters, hunters, anglers and boaters in central Ohio....

Columbus, Ohio is about 350 miles or approximately six hours drive from Chicago, Illinois. 

A city should have the right to sue gun sales by any dealer known to have the majority of traces. in other words. A gun seller has a high rate of sales that shows up in Chicago crime. That seller is providing guns to criminals. That has to stop. 

The Charlotte, NC dealer and New York City have something in common. They share I-95. About ten hours and 750 miles between the two. The distances between the two is irrelevant to the realization a gun dealer is the one of choice for any New York crime network.

..."We're one of the oldest gun stores and sell the most guns in the Southeast," he said. "We've sold nearly a million guns. We have a 6,000-gun inventory and sell 50 guns a day. People buy here from 100 miles away because I have four gunsmiths to repair guns."...

Large volume gun dealers are not required to do background checks because it is viewed as a wholesale distributor and not a direct sales store to customers. The realization these large volume sellers are finding their guns into the hands of criminals should give them a reality check. "I didnt' do anything "W'rong." Right, three is nothing like an honest business man selling guns to retailers that sell to criminals. 

It is well known there are corridors where guns travel to reach the wrong owners that can no longer obtain their guns legitimately. There is nothing to say these distributors ever conduct business knowingly with criminals. However, reality wins out to realize such large number of gun traces from crime scenes are back to these distributors. 

Enough. There should be an investigation demanded by these wholesalers to protect their reputations and that is not the cause. Cities and/or families should have rights to justice when it is realized the guns involved in crime are traceable to one gun dealer.

Germany needs to pay attention. Knives are the weapon of choice among the migrants.

Knives are silent running. They are undetectable until it is upon the target. We have seen knives used before on a much smaller scale, ie:  

17 September 2015
 By Justin Huggler 

A known Islamic extremist (click here) has been shot dead by police in Berlin after he stabbed and seriously wounded a woman officer in an apparent terror attack.... 

This violence was started because Israel restricted access to holy sites. 

Israeli police detain a Palestinian man suspected of stabbing an Israeli in Jerusalem on 9 October, 2015. Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters  

9 October 2015 
By Haroon Siddique and Ben Quinn 

Summary (click here) 

Six people have been stabbed despite the deployment of thousands of extra police officers in an attempt to stop the violence which has left 11 dead over the past week.

Four Arabs were stabbed in Dimona, in the Negev desert, in a “nationalistic” attack. A 17-year-old Jewish suspect was arrested. The perpetrator was said to have described his victims - reportedly three Palestinian construction workers and one Bedouin municipal worker from the West Bank as “terrorists”.

A Jewish youth (reportedly aged 14 to 16) was stabbed in Jerusalem. He was said to have suffered light injuries. An Arab suspect was arrested, Israeli police said. 

A police officer was stabbed at the entrance to the Kiryat Arba settlement in the West Bank. He suffered light injuries, according to Israeli police, which said his attacker - a Palestinian - was shot dead after he tried to grab the officer’s gun. 

A female Israeli Arab was shot after she attempted to stab a security guard at a bus station in Afula, in northern Israel. She is said to have suffered “moderate” injuries. 

The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, “strongly condemned the harming of innocent Arabs”. He said whoever deploys violence will be brought to justice...

October 9, 2015

By Edward McAllister and David Adams

...While the decision-making  (click here) may appear inexplicable from a distance, Captain Michael Davidson was an experienced mariner and it is not clear what factors he would have been weighing as he sought to save his ship from calamity. El Faro stopped communicating after reporting early on Oct. 1 that it had lost propulsion, was taking on water and listing. No reason was given for the loss of power.

A spokesman for ship owner Tote Inc, Michael Hanson, declined comment, saying the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the sinking, had asked the company to refer all questions related to the investigation to them....

I think the storm came at him and not the other way around. The storm was oscillating a lot. It was mostly unpredictable as it would prove to be.

The captain may have mapped a course where the storm was expected to move away from as time went by. His course selection may have been safe, but, with the unexpected turn to the southwest and ever increasing velocity, it took the ship down.

Sympathies to the family, friends and the academy students. I do not believe the Captain was in error. He was facing something he had never bargained for. There were 13 dams defeated in South Carolina. The land has received catastrophic damage. The only storm I can recall in recent history to cause such devastation was Andrew and the tip of Florida. Even Katrina didn't disrupt the land like Joaquin did. Between Andrew and Joaquin, it would be Andrew that caused the worst damage, but, Joaquin caused severe widespread damage. The two storms are only separated by incremental differences.

I was the storm and not the Captain. I am fairly confident of that.